Marianne Duddy-Burke

“This is Why LGBTQI Catholics and Families Feel Unwelcome in Our Church.”

June 21, 2017. Boston, MA.  Leaders of DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics committed to justice, equality and full inclusion of LGBTQI Catholics in the Church and society, decry the “Decree Regarding Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ and Related Pastoral Issues” recently promulgated by Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois. The Decree outlines policies for all Catholic institutions in the Diocese when dealing with people in same-sex marriages.

May 5, 2017. Boston, MA. The Executive Order on Religious Freedom signed by President Donald Trump did not contain the explicitly anti-LGBTQI provisions that were part of leaked early drafts of the Order. However, leaders of DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics working for equality, justice and full inclusion of LGBTQI people in the Church and society, are warning that there are ominous signals that hard-won rights could soon be rolled back.

This letter to the editor from DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke appeared in the January 13, 2017 print issue of National Catholic Reporter. It was written in response to an article by Thomas Reese, SJ entitled  “Time to Compromise on Gay Rights and Religious Freedom.”

Well-intentioned but Problematic

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy is releasing a new document (dated December 8, 2016) entitled “The Gift of the Priestly Vocation,” which is a set of guidelines for priestly formation. The document notes, “The Holy Father Francis has approved the present General Executive Decree and has ordered its publication.”

November 4, 2016—“DignityUSA is deeply disappointed by Pope Francis’ recent reaffirmation of Pope John Paul II's statement that the ordination of women will never be possible in the Catholic Church,” said the organization’s executive director, Marianne Duddy-Burke.

Indianapolis, IN. October 2, 2016. In remarks at a gathering of Catholics in Georgia, Pope Francis termed what he calls “gender theory” “the great enemy of marriage.”  He also said “the whole world is at war trying to destroy marriage,” not with arms, “but with ideas.” He repeated his claim that the Church has “to defend ourselves from ideological colonization.”

Boston, MA. August 10, 2016. DignityUSA, the nation’s largest organizations of Catholics committed to justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our Church and in society, is calling on fellow Catholic Senator Marco Rubio to cancel his appearance at an anti-gay event being held in Orlando on August 11, 2016, the two-month anniversary of the worst mass shooting in US, which occurred at Pulse nightclub, an LGBT club.

Boston, MA. June 26, 2016--Leaders of DignityUSA, the organization of LGBTQ Catholics and allies committed to equality and justice for LGBTQ people, welcomed the statement of Pope Francis today that the Church must apologize to gay people and to other groups that it has let down or offended throughout history.  The Pope’s comments echoed similar remarks made last week by one of his closest advisors, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Germany.

Boston, MA, June 12, 2016. DignityUSA, the organization of Catholics committed to equality and justice for LGBTQ people, offers our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives during the overnight attack at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. We offer prayers and support to the injured, and to those who witnessed the horrors of this attack. We thank the law enforcement officers who responded for their response, which prevented further loss of life.